The DISCUSSION Purpose: to interpret your results and

1
Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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(No Transcript)
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• Perhaps the most disturbing finding in the table
  is that low numbers of impaired drivers on the
  road are not accompanied by proportionately low
  numbers of impaired drivers in fatal crashes.

???
13
Secondary References

• Secondary references interpret the work of other
  authors and researchers.
• A comparison of secondary sources with one
  another and to primary sources allows a more
  balanced viewpoint.
• Authors should separate fact from opinion.
• A Writer's Resource Finding and Using
  References. Gilbride, JA. Topics in Clinical
  Nutrition Volume 19(4), October/November/December
  2004, p 326337

14
Secondary References

• Secondary references interpret the work of other
  authors and researchers.
• A comparison of secondary sources with one
  another and to primary sources allows a more
  balanced viewpoint.
• Authors should separate fact from opinion.
• A Writer's Resource Finding and Using
  References. Gilbride, JA. Topics in Clinical
  Nutrition Volume 19(4), October/November/December
  2004, p 326337

15

• Recent fatality research in Scandinavia has
  shown to an astonished public that the role of
  alcohol in fatal crashes in the northern
  countries is only marginally less than in
  countries with much higher alcohol consumption
  and far more drinking drivers on the road.

or
16
A Dictionary of Useful Research Phrases

• "It has long been known..."

17
A Dictionary of Useful Research Phrases

• "It has long been known..."
• I didn't look up the original references.

18
A Dictionary of Useful Research Phrases

• "It has long been known..."
• I didn't look up the original references.
• "It is believed that..."

19
A Dictionary of Useful Research Phrases

• "It has long been known..."
• I didn't look up the original references.
• "It is believed that..."
• I think.

20
Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
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Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
25
Purpose to interpret your results and justify
your interpretation
can often be accomplished in four or five
paragraphs
26
(No Transcript)
27
DISCUSSION The analysis of alcohol-related
crash rates clearly demonstrates a rise in both
alcohol-related crashes and alcohol-related crash
fatalities occurring between noon on Sunday and
noon on Monday, after the ban on Sunday packaged
alcohol sales was lifted. The 29 increase in
Sunday alcohol-related crash rates resulted in an
estimated excess of 543.1 alcohol-related motor
vehicle crashes between July 1, 1995, and June
30, 2000, over what would have been observed had
the ban not been repealed. There was a 42 pre-
to postrepeal increase in the Sunday
alcohol-related crash fatality rate, resulting in
an excess of 41.6 fatalities attributable to
repealing the ban on Sunday packaged alcohol
sales (95 CI 6.6, 76.6). No other day of the
week showed any statistically significant change
in alcohol-related crashes or alcohol-related
crash fatalities. Furthermore, the analysis of
nonalcohol-related crash rates indicates that
relative crash rates on Sundays cannot be
attributed to background trends in crash
risks. Some limitations are apparent. The
reporting police officer classified nonfatal
crashes as alcohol involved or not alcohol
involved. There has been some debate about the
accuracy of such reporting23,24 because the
designation often relies on the subjective
judgment of the reporting police officer. Some
researchers have suggested that investigators use
single-vehicle nighttime crashes as a proxy
measure of alcohol-related crashes and
alcohol-related crash fatalities.25 This tactic,
however, did not allow us to estimate the true
impact of repealing the ban on the number of
alcohol-related crashes and alcohol-related crash
fatalities (Table 2), which is of primary concern
to state legislators. The issue is of less
concern, however, because it has been shown that
police-reported rates of alcohol involvement and
rates of single-vehicle nighttime crashes tend to
be highly correlated.26 Furthermore, a recent
study using the New Mexico crash data to
investigate drive-up liquor window closure on
crash rates in New Mexico found no difference in
any results whether one considered single-vehicle
nighttime or all alcohol-related crashes.20
Analyses of driving-while-impaired citation data
would help corroborate our findings. Moreover,
there is no reason to believe that an error in
police officer reporting would be biased only on
Sundays and only after the ban on Sunday packaged
alcohol sales was lifted. Even so, this
limitation does not apply to fatal crash results
for which alcohol involvement was determined by
blood alcohol concentration. Our results
strongly suggest that increasing alcohol
availability on Sunday was associated with
increases in alcohol-related motor vehicle
crashes and fatalities. Legalizing Sunday
packaged alcohol sales may increase state tax
revenues, but at the same time it exacts a
significant price that is paid by crash victims
and their loved ones, health care providers,
insurers, and law enforcement and judicial
systems. State legislators should consider these
consequences when deciding on policy that is
intended to serve the public well-being.
28
DISCUSSION The analysis of alcohol-related
crash rates clearly demonstrates a rise in both
alcohol-related crashes and alcohol-related crash
fatalities occurring between noon on Sunday and
noon on Monday, after the ban on Sunday packaged
alcohol sales was lifted. The 29 increase in
Sunday alcohol-related crash rates resulted in an
estimated excess of 543.1 alcohol-related motor
vehicle crashes between July 1, 1995, and June
30, 2000, over what would have been observed had
the ban not been repealed. There was a 42 pre-
to postrepeal increase in the Sunday
alcohol-related crash fatality rate, resulting in
an excess of 41.6 fatalities attributable to
repealing the ban on Sunday packaged alcohol
sales (95 CI 6.6, 76.6). No other day of the
week showed any statistically significant change
in alcohol-related crashes or alcohol-related
crash fatalities. Furthermore, the analysis of
nonalcohol-related crash rates indicates that
relative crash rates on Sundays cannot be
attributed to background trends in crash
risks. Some limitations are apparent. The
reporting police officer classified nonfatal
crashes as alcohol involved or not alcohol
involved. There has been some debate about the
accuracy of such reporting because the
designation often relies on the subjective
judgment of the reporting police officer. Some
researchers have suggested that investigators use
single-vehicle nighttime crashes as a proxy
measure of alcohol-related crashes and
alcohol-related crash fatalities. This tactic,
however, did not allow us to estimate the true
impact of repealing the ban on the number of
alcohol-related crashes and alcohol-related crash
fatalities (Table 2), which is of primary concern
to state legislators. The issue is of less
concern, however, because it has been shown that
police-reported rates of alcohol involvement and
rates of single-vehicle nighttime crashes tend to
be highly correlated. Furthermore, a recent study
using the New Mexico crash data to investigate
drive-up liquor window closure on crash rates in
New Mexico found no difference in any results
whether one considered single-vehicle nighttime
or all alcohol-related crashes. Analyses of
driving-while-impaired citation data would help
corroborate our findings. Moreover, there is no
reason to believe that an error in police officer
reporting would be biased only on Sundays and
only after the ban on Sunday packaged alcohol
sales was lifted. Even so, this limitation does
not apply to fatal crash results for which
alcohol involvement was determined by blood
alcohol concentration. Our results strongly
suggest that increasing alcohol availability on
Sunday was associated with increases in
alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and
fatalities. Legalizing Sunday packaged alcohol
sales may increase state tax revenues, but at the
same time it exacts a significant price that is
paid by crash victims and their loved ones,
health care providers, insurers, and law
enforcement and judicial systems. State
legislators should consider these consequences
when deciding on policy that is intended to serve
the public well-being.
1 (main result/conclusion)
23 (limitations/compare to other studies)
?
29
Our results strongly suggest that increasing
alcohol availability on Sunday was associated
with increases in alcohol-related motor vehicle
crashes and fatalities.

Legalizing
Sunday packaged alcohol sales may increase state
tax revenues, but at the same time it exacts a
significant price that is paid by crash victims
and their loved ones, health care providers,
insurers, and law enforcement and judicial
systems.


State legislators should
consider these consequences when deciding on
policy that is intended to serve the public
well-being.
MAIN CONCLUSION (restated)
Additional Context
RECOMMENDATION
30
Legalized Sunday Packaged Alcohol Sales and
Alcohol Related Traffic Crashes and Crash
Fatalities in New Mexico We determined the
relative risk of alcohol-related motor vehicle
accidents and fatalities after New Mexico lifted
its ban on Sunday packaged alcohol sales. We
extracted all alcohol-related crashes from New
Mexico police reports for 3652 days between July
1, 1990, and June 30, 2000, and found a 29
increase in alcohol-related crashes and a 42
increase in alcohol-related crash fatalities on
Sundays after the ban on Sunday packaged alcohol
sales was lifted. There was an estimated excess
of 543.1 alcohol-related crashes and 41.6
alcohol-related crash fatalities on Sundays after
the ban was lifted. Repealing the ban on Sunday
packaged alcohol sales introduced a public health
and safety hazard in New Mexico.

• Editing for SUBSTANCE
• Mistakes
• Ambiguity
• Missing key info
• Extraneous/misleading info

31
Legalized Sunday Packaged Alcohol Sales and
Alcohol Related Traffic Crashes and Crash
Fatalities in New Mexico We determined the
relative risk of alcohol-related motor vehicle
accidents and fatalities after New Mexico lifted
its ban on Sunday packaged alcohol sales. We
extracted all alcohol-related crashes from New
Mexico police reports for 3652 days between July
1, 1990, and June 30, 2000, and found a 29
increase in alcohol-related crashes and a 42
increase in alcohol-related crash fatalities on
Sundays after the ban on Sunday packaged alcohol
sales was lifted. There was an estimated excess
of 543.1 alcohol-related crashes and 41.6
alcohol-related crash fatalities on Sundays after
the ban was lifted. Repealing the ban on Sunday
packaged alcohol sales introduced a public health
and safety hazard in New Mexico.

• Editing for SUBSTANCE
• Mistakes
• Ambiguity
• Missing key info
• Extraneous/misleading info

32
Legalized Sunday Packaged Alcohol Sales and
Alcohol Related Traffic Crashes and Crash
Fatalities in New Mexico We determined the
relative risk of alcohol-related motor vehicle
accidents and fatalities after New Mexico lifted
its ban on Sunday packaged alcohol sales on July
1, 1995. We extracted all alcohol-related
crashes from New Mexico police reports for 3652
days between July 1, 1990, and June 30, 2000, and
found a 29 increase in alcohol-related crashes
and a 42 increase in alcohol-related crash
fatalities on Sundays after the ban on Sunday
packaged alcohol sales was lifted. There was an
estimated excess of 543.1 alcohol-related crashes
and 41.6 alcohol-related crash fatalities on
Sundays after the ban was lifted. Repealing the
ban on Sunday packaged alcohol sales introduced a
public health and safety hazard in New Mexico.
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Study Purpose

• smokers among pregnant women
• smokers among non-pregnant women
• compare to 50

37
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38

• R1
• ?
• C1
• .
• .
• .
• R2
• ?
• C2

R1 R2 ? C1 C2
39
R1 R2 ? C1
40
Structured Discussion BMJ
41
Other resources to help you write better papers

• Observational studies STROBE
• Clinical trials CONSORT
• Diagnostic studies STARD
• Meta-analysis QUOROM

42
STROBE Statement
43
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44

• The true number of examinations for oral cancer
  is probably far below the national objective of
  40. An unknown number of clinicians may not
  conduct oral examinations routinely or when
  patient behaviors indicate one.

45

• The true number of examinations for oral cancer
  is probably far below the national objective of
  40. An unknown number of clinicians may not
  conduct oral examinations routinely or when
  patient behaviors indicate one.

46
Author conjecture
47
Author conjecture
48

• The true number of examinations for oral cancer
  is probably far below the national objective of
  40. An unknown number of clinicians may not
  conduct oral examinations routinely or when
  patient behaviors indicate one.

49
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, it
means just what I choose it to mean -- neither
more nor less.' 'The question is,' said Alice,
'whether you can make words mean so many
different things.' 'The question is,' said
Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master -- that's
all.' Alice was too much puzzled to say
anything.
50
(No Transcript)
51
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
52
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
53
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
54
Tables/Figures
55
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

56
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

57
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58
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59
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

60
Trends in Postpartum Diabetes Screening and
Subsequent Diabetes and Impaired Glucose
Regulation among Women with Histories of
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

• A large number (n 600) of women with
  gestational diabetes underwent an oral glucose
  tolerance test. Of these women, 4 (25) were
  diagnosed by fasting plasma glucose alone. Of
  the remaining 12 women, 8 (50) had impaired
  fasting glucose and 4 (25) had a normal fasting
  glucose.

When you show percentages, be clear what the
denominator is number AND characteristics
61
IDU injecting-drug user
Can you find the calculation error in this table?
62
IDU injecting-drug user
63
IDU injecting-drug user
11 -- 628/5782
64
IDU injecting-drug user
11 -- 628/5782 13 -- 628/4639
65
IDU injecting-drug user
How do we correct the mistake?
66
IDU injecting-drug user
628/7080 9
67
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

68
IDU injecting-drug user
69
IDU injecting-drug user
70
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

71
Table 1 Percent missing individual data elements,
overall and for single and multiple race groups
Public Health Rep. 2006 MarApr 121(2) 160168.
The Role of Reported Primary Race on Health
Measures for Multiple Race Respondents in the
National Health Interview Survey Jennifer D
Parker, PhDa
72
AJPH August 2008, 1460 Vol 98, No. 8 Leisure-Time
Physical Activity Disparities Among Hispanic
Subgroups in the United States Charles J.
Neighbors, PhD, MBA, David X. Marquez, PhD, and
Bess H. Marcus, PhD
73
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

74
Footnotes
IDU injecting-drug user
75
Note. Sample size totals vary owing to
question-specific nonresponse a. Includes 44
states and the District of Columbia b. Three or
more sessions per week, 20 or more minutes per
session. c. Fewer than three sessions per week
and/or less than 20 minutes per session. d.
Persons who report having participated during the
past month in any leisure-time physical
activities or exercises such as running,
calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking e.
Relative prevalence of walking prevalence of
walking divided by prevalence of participation in
at least one activity f. Standard error of the
mean g. See Methods section for definition of
body mass categories
76
Tables/Figures

• Use tables to highlight individual values.
• Use figures to highlight trends/relationships.
• Check your math.
• Provide consistent row or column summation.
• Keep lines to a minimum avoid vertical lines.
• Use footnotes to clarify points of potential
  ambiguity.
• Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and
  footnotes.

77
Table 2. Exposure groups among adults by
gender.
IDU injecting-drug user
78
Table 2. Adult AIDS cases, by exposure group and
sex, Puerto Rico, 1981-1991.
IDU injecting-drug user

• Remember
• minimum number of lines
• no vertical lines

Do you see any shortcomings in this improved
table?
79
Table 2. Adult AIDS cases, by exposure group and
sex, Puerto Rico, 1981-1991
IDU Injecting-drug user MSM Men who have
sex with men
80
Table 2. Adult AIDS cases, by exposure group and
sex, Puerto Rico, 1981-1991
IDU Injecting-drug user MSM Men who have
sex with men
81
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
82
Text

• Summarize/emphasize highlights.
• Be brief a picture (table/figure) is worth a
  thousand words.
• Fill in gaps.
• Make sure text is consistent with tables/figures.

83
Text

• Summarize/emphasize highlights.
• Be brief a picture (table/figure) is worth a
  thousand words.
• Fill in gaps.
• Make sure text is consistent with tables/figures.

84
Text

• Summarize/emphasize highlights.
• Be brief a picture (table/figure) is worth a
  thousand words.
• Fill in gaps.
• Make sure text is consistent with tables/figures.

85
(No Transcript)
86
Smoking initiation rate
of people who began smoking during the relevant
year
of non-smoking people at the beginning of the
relevant year
87

• During 1980 to 1989, the smoking initiation rate
  increased for adolescents and decreased for young
  adults, resulting in a large disparity in
  initiation rates between the two groups.
• In 1982, smoking initiation rates among young
  adults and adolescents were similar, however
  between 1982-84, significant changes began
  occurring, resulting in increased smoking
  initiation rates among adolescents and decreased
  rates with young adults.
• Beginning in 1980, over the next 5 years smoking
  initiation rates among adolescents and young
  adults decreased slightly and then over the
  subsequent 5 years, rates for adolescents
  increased while rates for young adults declined.

88
Smoking initiation rates were similar among
adolescents and young adults from 1980 through
1984 from 1984 through 1989 rates increased
among adolescents and decreased among young
adults, (Fig). SW rule 5, p5
89
Smoking initiation rates were similar among
adolescents and young adults from 1980 through
1984 from 1984 through 1989 rates increased
among adolescents and decreased among young
adults, (Fig). Smoking initiation rates were
similar among adolescents and young adults from
1980 through 1984 (4.8-5.5 vs 4.4-5.1) from
1984 through 1989 rates increased among
adolescents and decreased among young adults,
(Fig). Smoking initiation rates were similar
among adolescents and young adults from 1980
through 1984 (4.8-5.5 vs 4.4-5.1) from 1984
through 1989 rates increased among adolescents
and decreased among young adults, (Fig). In 1988
and 1989 the smoking initiation rate among
adolescents was about two percentage points
higher than among young adults.
90
Table 1. Age-Adjusted Prevalence of
Overall and Walking Leisure-Time Physical
Activity (LTPA) among Adults
Sample Size
Any LTPA1 (CI) Total
Walking (CI) Relative
Walking2 (CI)
1Participate in any leisure-time physical
activity. 2Proportion Any LTPA adults who walk in
leisure-time
91
Table 1. Age-Adjusted Prevalence of
Overall and Walking Leisure-Time Physical
Activity (LTPA) among Adults
Sample Size
Any LTPA1 (CI) Total
Walking (CI) Relative
Walking2 (CI)
The importance of walking relative to all LTPAs
increased from a low of 43.0 in the youngest
age-group (20-29 years) to a high of 62.3 in the
oldest age-group (80 and older).
92
Text

• Summarize/emphasize highlights.
• Be brief a picture (table/figure) is worth a
  thousand words.
• Fill in gaps.
• Make sure text is consistent with tables/figures.

93
Text

• Summarize/emphasize highlights.
• Be brief a picture (table/figure) is worth a
  thousand words.
• Fill in gaps.
• Make sure text is consistent with tables/figures.

94
Table 1. Age-Adjusted Prevalence of
Overall and Walking Leisure-Time Physical
Activity (LTPA) among Adults
Sample Size
Any LTPA1 (CI) Total
Walking (CI) Relative
Walking2 (CI)
The importance of walking relative to all LTPAs
increased from a low of 43.0 in the youngest
age-group (20-29 years) to a high of 62.3 in the
oldest age-group (80 and older).
95
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97
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98
Text

• Summarize/emphasize highlights.
• Be brief a picture (table/figure) is worth a
  thousand words.
• Fill in gaps.
• Make sure text is consistent with tables/figures.
• Remember that readers arent mind readers.

99

• Adolescents (aged 13-19 years) and young adults
  (aged 20-29 years) accounted for 25 and 27 of
  heterosexual-contact cases reported in 1992 and
  1993, respectively.

100
1992 1993
13-19 20-29
101
1992 1993
13-19 20-29
102
1992 1993
Now lets try to revise the original text.
103

• Adolescents (aged 13-19 years) and young adults
  (aged 20-29 years) accounted for 25 and 27 of
  heterosexual-contact cases reported in 1992 and
  1993, respectively.
• Persons aged 13-29 years accounted for 25 and
  27 of heterosexual-contact cases reported in
  1992 and 1993, respectively.

104
Reader trying to read the authors mind
105

• Persons aged 13-29 years accounted for 25 and
  27 of heterosexual-contact cases reported in
  1992 and 1993, respectively.
• Respectively see Strunk and White,
  p57
• Can we revise this sentence without using
  respectively?

106

• Persons aged 13-29 years accounted for 25 and
  27 of heterosexual-contact cases reported in
  1992 and 1993, respectively.

107
Persons aged 13-29 years accounted for 25 and
27 of heterosexual-contact cases reported in
1992 and 1993, respectively. Persons aged
1329 years accounted for 25 of
heterosexual-contact cases reported in 1992 and
27 in 1993.
108
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
109
Logical Sequence

• in parallel with methods
• background data ? descriptive ? bivariate ?
  multivariable

110
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
111
Results (Excerpt Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
Stressors An American Study)

• The highest ratings for selected stressor items
  on a five-point scale (0-4) were floating out of
  the unit (3.38 SD1.02 n53), unnecessary
  prolongation of life (3.10 SD1.27 n51),
  emergencies/arrests (3.07 SD1.03 n57), and
  inadequate staffing (3.04 SD1.04 n56).

112
Stressor n Score SD Floating 53 3.38 1.02 Prol
ongation 51 3.10 1.27 Emerg/arrests 57 3.07 1.03 I
nad staffing 56 3.04 1.04 Xxx . . . . .
. Yyy . . . . . . Zzz . . . . .
.
113
The most stressful factors were floating out of
the unit, unnecessary prolongation of life,
emergencies/arrests, and inadequate
staffing. (SW, rule 7, p7) The most stressful
factors were the following floating out of the
unit, unnecessary prolongation of life,
emergencies/arrests, and inadequate
staffing. (SW Words and Expressions Commonly
Misused) Factor can usually be replaced by
something more direct The most stressful
situations were the following floating out of
the unit, unnecessary prolongation of life,
emergencies/arrests, and inadequate
staffing. NICU nurses identified the following
situations as the most stressful floating out of
the unit, unnecessary prolongation of life,
emergencies/arrests, and inadequate staffing.
114

• NICU nurses identified the following situations
  as the most stressful floating out of the unit,
  unnecessary prolongation of life,
  emergencies/arrests, and inadequate staffing
  (Table).

115
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
116
Risk Factors for Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
among Navajo Adults

• METHODS
• Setting and Case Ascertainment
• Participants
• Data Collection
• Definitions of Study Variables
• Statistical Analysis
• Ethical Considerations
• RESULTS
• Characteristics of study subjects

117
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
118
Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of
DevelopingCardiometabolic Risk Factors and the
Metabolic Syndromein Middle-Aged Adults in the
Community

• Methods Results
• Study Sample
• Measurement of Covariates
• Assessment of Soft Drink Consumption
• and Dietary Intake of Other Foods
• Definition and Components of the
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Statistical Analyses
• Soft Drink Consumption and
• Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome
  Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome
• Soft Drink Consumption and
• Incidence of the Metabolic Syndrome
  Incidence of the Metabolic Syndrome

119

• RESULTS
• Impact of the Standard Weight Loss Intervention
• Maintenance Intervention Effects
• Weight Outcomes
• BSM Psychological Targets
• SFM Psychological Targets
• Child Social Problems as a Moderator of Weight
  Outcome

120

• RESULTS
• Impact of the Standard Weight Loss Intervention
• Maintenance Intervention Effects
• Weight Outcomes
• Interventions vs. Controls
• BSM vs SFM
• ITT Analyses
• BSM Psychological Targets
• SFM Psychological Targets
• Child Social Problems as a Moderator of Weight
  Outcome

121
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose
122
Purpose to describe the results of data
analysis that are relevant to the study purpose

• (often requires just three paragraphs three
  tables/figures)

123
When the sins of the Methods section
124
When the sins of the Methods section return to
haunt
125
When the sins of the Methods section return to
haunt the Results section
126
Reliability of Information on Chronic Disease
Risk Factors Collected in the Missouri Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System
Now how do we answer the question Do
reliability and agreement mean the same
thing?
127
Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies A
Randomized Controlled TrialAmerican Journal of
Preventive Medicine 200732(1)1-10

• Do you think this title provides a brief,
  informative summary of the article?
• Do you think the study intervention resulted in a
  decreased number/rate of alcohol-exposed
  pregnancies?

128
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129
Purpose to highlight key points from the major
sections of the article

• Emphasize what is new and useful.

130
Editing

• SUBSTANCE
• Mistakes
• Ambiguity
• Missing key info
• Extraneous/misleading info
• Empty statements

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• Is the conclusion supported by the study
  results?
• Is it clear that the study provides new/useful
  information?

132
The Abstract

• RELIABILITY
• VALIDITY
• RELIABILITY
• RELIABILITY
• FLEXIBILITY
• UTILITY

• Purpose
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions

133
The Abstract

• Brief Motivational Intervention to reduce risk
  of AEP

• Design

134
The Abstract

• Brief Motivational Intervention to reduce risk
  of AEP
• Info Br-Mot-Int vs Info only

• Design
• Intervention

135
The Abstract

• Brief Motivational Intervention to reduce risk
  of AEP
• Info Br-Mot-Int vs Info only
• Info Br-Mot-Int gt Info only

• Design
• Intervention
• Results

136
The Abstract

• Brief Motivational Intervention to reduce risk
  of AEP
• Info Br-Mot-Int vs Info only
• Info Br-Mot-Int gt Info only
• Brief Motivational Intervention

• Design
• Intervention
• Results
• Conclusions

137
The Abstract

• Brief Motivational Intervention to reduce risk
  of AEP
• Info Br-Mot-Int vs Info only
• Info Br-Mot-Int gt Info only
• Brief Motivational Intervention

• Design
• Intervention
• Results
• Conclusions

138

• ABSTRACT
• Reducing the risk of AEP

• TITLE
• Preventing AEP

139

• ABSTRACT
• Reducing the risk of AEP

• TITLE
• Preventing AEP

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Purpose to convince the reader that your study
will yield knowledge or knowhow that is new and
useful
142
Elements of the Introduction

• GAP
• GB Key BACKGROUND to the gap.
• GU Why filling the gap will be
  USEFUL.
• GL Key LIMITATION(S) of previous
  studies responsible for the gap.

143
Elements of the Introduction

• GAP
• GB Key BACKGROUND to the gap.
• GU Why filling the gap will be
  USEFUL.
• GL Key LIMITATION(S) of previous
  studies responsible for the gap.
• APPROACH
• AB BACKGROUND to the approach (not
  always necessary)
• AN What is NEW about the approach
  taken in the current study.
• AL How does this new approach address
  the LIMITATIONS of previous
• studies.

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• Exercise
• Briefly describe what is new about this study.

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• Participants
• Intervention
• Study Design
• Outcome Measures
• Baseline Measures
• Sample Size
• Statistical Analysis

147

• Participants
• Inclusion criteria were (1) 1844 years old
  (2) no condition causing infertility (tubal
  ligation, hysterectomy, menopause, or other
  reason) (3) not pregnant or planning to become
  pregnant in the next 9 months (4) had vaginal
  intercourse during the previous 3 months (or 3
  months before going to jail or residential
  treatment) with a fertile man (not surgically
  sterile) without using effective contraception
  (defined in Outcome Measures) (5) engaged in
  risky drinking (defined in Outcome Measures) . .
  .

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• Participants
• Women in jail
• What is their access to alcohol/sexual
  activity?

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page 5

• No significant differences were found in the
  sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of
  the intervention and control groups at baseline
  (Table 2).

151

• Overall, study participants had a mean age of 30
  years, were predominately African-American (48),
  had never been married (51), and had annual
  incomes of lt20,000 (55).
• Fifty-six percent met the criteria for alcohol
  dependence on a DSM-IV checklist.
• Illicit drug use (gt90) and tobacco smoking
  (gt70) were highly prevalent in the population.
• Approximately 30 consumed on average eight
  drinks per occasion and 36 drinks per week.
• About one-third reported no contraception use,
  with the remainder reporting using contraception
  inconsistently or ineffectively.
• More than 98 of the women in the intervention
  group received at least one session, and 63
  received all four sessions.
• On average, they attended 3.2 counseling
  sessions, and approximately 70 attended a
  contraception consultation visit.
• Overall, 71 of participants completed the
  9-month follow-up interview.
• The longitudinal analysis included 665
  participants who completed the 3-month follow-up
  interview, 604 who completed the 6-month
  follow-up interview, and 593 who completed the
  9-month follow-up interview, with approximately
  equal numbers in treatment and control groups at
  each of the phases.

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(n665)
(n604) (n593)
155

(n665)
(n604) (n593)
The longitudinal analysis included 665
participants who completed the 3-month follow-up
interview, 604 who completed the 6-month
follow-up interview, and 593 who completed the
9-month follow-up interview, with approximately
equal numbers in treatment and control groups at
each of the phases (Table 4).
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Efficacy, page 6

• The average number of binge-drinking episodes in
  the intervention group was reduced from 30.1 at
  baseline to 7.1 episodes at 9 months follow-up.
  In comparison, women in the control group changed
  from 29.1 binge episodes at baseline to 9.8 at 9
  months follow-up.
• The median number of drinks per week at baseline
  was reduced from 36 drinks to 2.3 drinks at 9
  months for intervention women, compared to 38
  drinks at baseline and 3.1 drinks at the 9-month
  follow-up for the control group.
• Women in the intervention group at the 9-month
  follow-up were more likely to reduce alcohol
  consumption to below risk levels at an OR of 1.5
  (95 CI 1.12.2), and were also more likely to
  use effective contraception at an OR of 2.4 (95
  CI 1.73.4).

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Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies A
Randomized Controlled Trial

• Do you think this title provides a brief,
  informative summary of the article?
• Do you think the study intervention resulted in
  a decreased number/rate of
• alcohol-exposed pregnancies?

162
Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies A
Randomized Controlled Trial
Can we improve the title of this paper?
163
Purpose to provide a brief, informative summary
that will attract your target audience
Important Emphasize what is new and useful!
164
IITHE PUBLICATION PROCESS
165

• Conduct literature review
• Start the paper
• Conduct study/analyze data
• Organize/summarize results succinctly
• Get early, frequent feedback (in "chunks")
• Formulate your key message
• Apply the "new/useful" test
• Choose your target audience
• Choose your target journal
• Read journal instructions for authors
• Draft (and debug) an abstract
• Write the first draft
• Master the literature
• Relearn, rethink, rewrite
• . . . and rewrite and rewrite
• How long?
• Critically review and finalize the abstract
• Attend to the details
• Submit article to target journal

166
Conduct literature review
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Conduct literature review
Finished?
175
Start the paper

• even before I do the study??

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Start the paper

• Draft the Introduction
• perhaps borrow from a study protocol or grant
  proposal that you already wrote
• Draft dummy table shells and figure axes for
  Results.

178
Conduct study/analyze data

• Now its time to write the first draft, right?
• Maybe not.

179
Organize/summarize results succinctly

• Fill in dummy tables and figures with real data.
• Draft additional tables and figures if needed
  look at published articles for potential
  templates.
• Summarize each table/figure in a single sentence.

180
Get early, frequent feedback
in "chunks"
181
Get early, frequent feedback

• Share your tables/figures and single-sentence
  summaries to coauthors/colleagues. Ask if they
  are clear/concise/compelling.

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Smoking initiation rates were similar among
adolescents and young adults from 1980 through
1984 from 1984 through 1989 rates increased
among adolescents and decreased among young
adults, (Fig). Smoking initiation rates were
similar among adolescents and young adults from
1980 through 1984 (4.8-5.5 vs 4.4-5.1) from
1984 through 1989 rates increased among
adolescents and decreased among young adults,
(Fig). Smoking initiation rates were similar
among adolescents and young adults from 1980
through 1984 (4.8-5.5 vs 4.4-5.1) from 1984
through 1989 rates increased among adolescents
and decreased among young adults, (Fig). In 1988
and 1989 the smoking initiation rate among
adolescents was about two percentage points
higher than among young adults.
184
Get early, frequent feedback

• Show your tables/figures and single-sentence
  summaries to coauthors/colleagues. Ask if they
  are clear/concise/compelling.
• Give presentations to colleagues at work, at
  conferences.
• Try to formulate a concise key message.

185
Get early, frequent feedback

• Show your tables/figures and single-sentence
  summaries to coauthors/colleagues. Ask if they
  are clear/concise/compelling.
• Give presentations to colleagues at work, at
  conferences
• Try to formulate a concise key message. Get
  feedback.

186
Please listen carefully to what I am about to
say. . .

• Dont wait for a complete draft to begin getting
  feedback.

187
Thanks for your detailed and lengthy criticism of
my manuscript. Ill be sure to incorporate your
suggestions into my next draft.
188
Formulate your key message

• Keep it simple try to boil down to a single
  sentence.
• Your message must contain something new and
  useful.
• Make sure your results support your key message.

189
Formulate your key message

• Keep it simple try to boil down to a single
  sentence.
• Your message must contain something new and
  useful.
• Make sure your results support your key message.
• The message may change as you develop the paper.

190
Apply the new/useful test
191
BMJ Rejection Checklist

• Why did we reject your paper?
• on balance, your paper is not sufficiently
  interesting for general readers (relative to
  other papers)
• the message is not new enough
• the topic is interesting but the paper does not
  cover it in enough depth
• the paper adds a small amount of new information
  but not enough to warrant space in the BMJ
• the message is not useful enough in practice

192
BMJ Rejection Checklist

• Why did we reject your paper?
• on balance, your paper is not sufficiently
  interesting for general readers (relative to
  other papers)
• the message is not new enough
• the topic is interesting but the paper does not
  cover it in enough depth
• the paper adds a small amount of new information
  but not enough to warrant space in the BMJ
• the message is not useful enough in practice

193

• What/Who is a general reader?

194
BMJ Mission Statement

• to lead the debate on health, and to engage,
  inform, and stimulate doctors, researchers and
  other health professionals in ways that will
  improve outcomes for patients

195
BMJ Mission Statement

• to lead the debate on health, and to engage,
  inform, and stimulate doctors, researchers and
  other health professionals in ways that will
  improve outcomes for patients

196
Choose your target audience
197
Choose your target journal
198
Choose your target journal

• Criteria
• A journal that matches your target audience
• How strong is your article?

199

• Addiction Journals
• AIDS Journals
• Allergy Medicine/Allergology Journals
• Allied Health
• Anatomy Journals
• Anesthesiology Journals
• Arthritis Journals
• Biochemistry Journals
• Bioengineering Biomechanics Journals
• Biotechnology Journals
• Cardiology Journals
• Chiropractic Journals
• Complementary Alternative Medicine Journals
• Critical Care Journals
• Dentistry Journals
• Dermatology Journals
• Developmental Disabilities Journals
• Diabetes Journals
• Education, Medical Journals

• Mental Health Journals
• Metabolism Journals
• Microbiology Journals
• Molecular Medicine Journals
• Mycology Journals
• Neonatology Journals
• Nephrology Journals
• Neurology Journals
• Neuroscience Journals
• Nuclear Medicine Journals
• Nursing Journals
• Nutrition Journals
• Obstetrics Journals
• Occupational Medicine Journals
• Oncology Journals
• Ophthalmology Journals
• Oral Medicine Journals
• Orthodontics Journals
• Orthopaedic Journals

200
Instructions for authors

• can help to confirm whether your topic is
  relevant to the journals mission
• e.g. Is AJPH interested in global health?

201

• The foremost mission of the American Journal of
  Public Health is to promote public health
  research, policy, practice, and education. We aim
  to embrace all of public health, from global
  policies to the local needs of public health
  practitioners. Contributions of original
  unpublished research, social science analyses,
  scholarly essays, critical commentaries,
  departments, and letters to the editor are
  welcome.

202

• The foremost mission of the American Journal of
  Public Health is to promote public health
  research, policy, practice, and education. We aim
  to embrace all of public health, from global
  policies to the local needs of public health
  practitioners. Contributions of original
  unpublished research, social science analyses,
  scholarly essays, critical commentaries,
  departments, and letters to the editor are
  welcome.

203
Instructions for authors

• And now for the details . . .

204
I certify that . . .
205
Final approval of manuscript
206
take public responsibility
207
document your contributions
208
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of
Cardiovascular Disease by Age and Years Since
MenopauseJAMA. 20072971465-1477 (Vol. 297 No.
13, April 4, 2007)
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Submission Checklist

• Cover letter with conflict of interest disclosure
  
• Justification for more than 6 authors
• Explanation of authors' contributions
• Abstract (correct format and word limit)
• Text (manuscript file in Word format)
• References (accuracy, style, and numbering)
• Acknowledgments (funding sources, contributors
  who didn't fulfill authorship requirements)
• Human Participant Protection (IRB approval,
  consent)
• Tables (numbered, with title and footnotes)
• Figures (numbered, black-and-white, EPS, WMF,
  PPT, or PDF)
• Related supplementary material, including images
  (TIFF, PSD, EPS, WMF, PDF, or JPEG of more than
  300 dpi, 4" x 6")
• from http//www.ajph.org/misc/ifora.shtml
  (March 7, 2008)

211
Draft (and debug) an abstract
212
Draft (and debug) an abstract

• RELIABILITY
• VALIDITY
• RELIABILITY
• RELIABILITY
• FLEXIBILITY
• UTILITY

• Purpose
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions

213
Write the first draft

• Finally!

214
Write the first draft

• Write for your target audience (use appropriate
  terminology/jargon).
• Consider using an outline.
• Dont sweat the grammar, syntax or details (only
  you need to understand the first draft).

215
When the Journal Responds

• Acknowledgment of receipt
• Internal review
• External review
• Comments from editors/referees
• Responding to the comments
• Writing the cover letter
• When to contact the editor

216
When the Journal Responds

• Acknowledgment of receipt
• Internal review
• External review
• Comments from editors/referees
• Responding to the comments
• Writing the cover letter
• When to contact the editor

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When the Journal Responds

• Acknowledgment of receipt
• Internal review
• External review
• Comments from editors/referees
• Responding to the comments
• Writing the cover letter
• When to contact the editor

220
American Journal of Public Health Production
Information

• Please help conserve precious Journal resources
  by consulting this and our other informational
  pages before directly contacting production staff
  with questions
• ajph.production_at_apha.org

221
How Long Does it Take?
222
How Long Does it Take?
223
How Long Does it Take?
224
The Secret of Success
225
The Secret of Success
Pathway to Productivity
226
The Secret of Success

• Conduct literature review
• Start the paper
• Conduct study/analyze data
• Organize/?summarize results succinctly
• Get early, frequent feedback (in "chunks")
• Formulate your key message
• Apply the "new/useful" test
• Choose your target audience
• Choose your target journal
• Read journal instructions for authors
• Draft (and debug) an abstract
• Write the first draft

?
227
The Secret of Success

• Conduct literature review
• Start the paper
• Conduct study/analyze data
• Organize/summarize results succinctly
• Get early, frequent feedback (in "chunks")
• Formulate your key message
• Apply the "new/useful" test
• Choose your target audience
• Choose your target journal
• Read journal instructions for authors
• Draft (and debug) an abstract
• Write the first draft

228
The Secret of Success

• Conduct literature review
• Start the paper
• Conduct study/analyze data
• Organize/summarize results succinctly
• Get early, frequent feedback (in "chunks")
• Formulate your key message
• Apply the "new/useful" test
• Choose your target audience
• Choose your target journal
• Read journal instructions for authors
• Draft (and debug) an abstract
• Write the first draft

Organize/summarize results succinctly Get early,
frequent feedback (in "chunks") Formulate your
key message Apply the "new/useful" test Choose
your target audience Choose your target
journal Read journal instructions for
authors Draft (and debug) an abstract